Rains likely to delay start of final Test

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting - Rose Bowel, Southampton, Wednesday

History in the making – England vs Sri Lanka. That is how the Hampshire Cricket Club is advertising the first ever Test match to be played at the Rose Bowl, beginning tomorrow and ending on Monday.

The hosts have also made big plans to celebrate the occasion with a number of events.

But all that is likely to end in a damp squib, because at the time of writing, it is raining heavily and that is how the weather is expected to be on the first and second day of this third and Final Test.

Arriving from London by coach what greeted me was over cast and gloomy conditions. It did not take long for the rains to come down. It is a pity that every Sri Lankan game had to be spoilt by rain.

The wicket has been covered and the outfield looks soggy. It is unlikely that the sun is going to come out strongly and help in the drying process. If ever there is play on day one, it will only be for a few overs.

The cricketers who arrived on the ground were cursing that they had to practice in the indoor nets. Selector on tour Duleep Mendis said that with the wicket being covered there was no way they could even have a glimpse of what the wicket is going to look like.

But he predicted that it would be a green top.

At the media briefing, stand in skipper Kumar Sangakkara said that the morale of the team was very high and that playing on a new venue would be of no much worry. He also said that the team will miss the influence of regular skipper Tillekeratne Dilshan.